These two Rangers could have significant value at the trade deadline

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Texas Rangers relief pitcher Keone Kela (50) is pictured during the Houston Astros vs. the Texas Rangers major league baseball game at Globe Life Park in Arlington on Friday, March 30, 2018. (Louis DeLuca/The Dallas Morning News)

What would be your ideal jersey rotation for us. These current ones are boring. I know I'll offend some, but I liked the mid-late 2000s vests. Powder blue always a winner. Just bring back "Rangers"! You? #EvanHelpUs

There are two tell-tale signs of a poor Rangers season. One, is fans asking about whatever happened to ... (Justin Thompson, Jeff Zimmerman and now Josh Hamilton). The other: Hey, what about the jerseys? So, I understand where we are at. When I got here in 1997, it was the height of the Rangers' red era. And I was a big fan. I'm a fan of red in unis. All the teams I grew up rooting for had a heavy bright red presence, so I like it. I'd be happy to return to that on a regular basis. And I'm OK with the red alternate tops, too.

I'm not a fan of big of multiple uniform choices. I mean should fans have to consult Rangers VP John Blake's twitter account to know what they need to wear to games to color-coordinate? I've always said: The less contact with Blake the better. So pick a primary uni and run with it. That said, when I collected baseball cards, I loved the old Reds sleeveless uniforms, so I was OK with that look for the Rangers, too.

#EvanHelpUs why don't the Rangers have any game jerseys that actually say Rangers on them?

Marketing/Branding. Apparently "Texas" sells better, creates a better identity than Rangers. The Rangers are always fighting for the Texas territory with Houston. "Texas" speaks more to a lot of fans than does "Rangers."

How much longer will the Perez experiment last? Fans’ patience running low. #EvanHelpUs

Doug Fister is probably out another 10 days or so and a ton of things can happen between now and when the Rangers might have to make some kind of decision, but the question that must still be answered, given how this season has started is this: Who in the Rangers' rotation has more of a future? Because it's still about the future. You look at this rotation and Hamels is gone after this year, Colon is 45, Fister is gone after this year, etc. If it's about the long-term, Perez, no matter how bad he's pitched to start this year, has more of a possible future here than other guys. He's still rather young (27), controllable and not terribly expensive.

If he is taken out of the rotation in the next month or so, I really believe it would be for the short term. It would not be with the idea that the club is done with him once and for all. Why? At this point, with no help on the immediate horizon and a bunch of guys who aren't going to be here next year, they simply can't afford to cut that chord.

Since we will be sellers at the half, could you see JD totally redoing the 25 man and focusing on getting farm guys and developing the young guys we have in the bigs? #EvanHelpUs

For what the Rangers might have to sell, they aren't going to get young big leaguers or big-time prospects on the cusp of the big leagues. It will be for younger, riskier lower-level minor leaguers, so, yeah, I think, by necessity, they would seek to restock the farm system. The big wave of talent is currently at Class A Down East and Hickory right now. Some of those guys might be moving to Double-A Frisco by the second half of the season. Finding guys for Down East and Hickory to replace them, allowing the last two draft classes to move at a slower pace might really put the Rangers on a stronger footing.

Evan, are the Astros going to take over the Round Rock Express next season and if so where could the Rangers AAA team be? #EvanHelpUs

Unless there is some great falling out between Reid Ryan and Jim Crane in the next five months, it is an absolute slam dunk that Houston will move into Round Rock for 2018. The Astros are currently in Fresno and that would not be an attractive landing spot for the Rangers if there is a big Triple-A shuffle. The most likely scenario is that Colorado Springs, currently Miwaukee's Triple-A club, would relocate to Sam Antonio and cut a deal with the Rangers. Then the Rangers, the local ownership group and the city of San Antonio would work together to try to come up with a plan for a new stadium.

If that doesn't work out, maybe the Rangers-A's-Fresno and Nashville (currently the A's Triple-A club) might come to some kind of trade agreement. Fresno would be close to Oakland. Nashville is an easy hop to Dallas and centrally located so that a player could get just about anywhere to meet the team if need be. And I like Nashville. I like the biscuits. I love hot chicken. There is music. There would be a lot of reasons to go see that club, if you know what I mean.

#EvanHelpUs Will we see any young pitching or is the goal to get through 1,458 plus innings without disrupting plans for young arms? Maybe a more major league ready arm could be received in the likely future Hamels/Beltre deals?

If the Rangers don't turn things around, think the only young starter you might see this year is left-hander Yohander Mendez, whose development plan should have him pushing the majors sometime in the second half of the season. The issue is command. In his first two starts this year, Mendez allowed four walks and 13 hits over eight innings. Above Double-A, he's allowed 25 walks in 55 innings. Way too many walks. What matters most for these guys is finishing off development so that, if possible, they are really ready when they do get to the majors. I'd be fine if Mendez doesn't get a callup until September.

#EvanHelpUs how would you describe the organizational opinion of Ryan Rua? What's holding him back?

The decision to add Renato Nunez pretty much closes the door on Ryan Rua's chances. Nunez, 24, is a right-handed hitter, as is Rua. He plays the same positions. He's three years younger. The Rangers sent Rua down after claiming Nunez (though they called Rua back after an injury to Tony Barnette).

I could make a strong case that Rua hasn't had as much of a chance as Jurickson Profar to prove himself (fewer games, fewer at-bats and with higher numbers across his slash line). But specific opportunities are not guaranteed to anybody. You get whatever you get and you have to run with it. Rua, for whatever reason, has not. He had an impressive first month in the majors in 2014, but is .229/.293/.370/.663 hitter since. His numbers against left-handed pitchers aren't overwhelming. Here is how baseball opportunities work: You will get one until the team finds somebody who can replace you. It appears the Rangers believe Nunez can replace him.

Well, I didn't sleep well last night, woke up with a headache, had to rush downtown to podcast, had some fried shrimp at lunch and then dealt with a foggy head all day before having some leftover beef stroganoff that my wife made.

Wait, you didn't mean what's happening with me?

With the Rangers, here's what is happening: A team that has contended for a decade is seeing the inevitable down cycle of having young players evolve into more expensive players. To try to finish off a championship team, the club made some risky high-dollar free agent signings and traded prospects in all-in deals. It's just not sustainable. And the price is coming due now. It's fairly natural for any team that isn't the Yankees or Red Sox with unlimited resources.

The Rangers could have "tanked" this season or they could have rolled the dice on a bunch of risky one-year deals and hoped that they all hit or enough did that, if the team faded from the race, they'd have some tradeable commodities.

@Evan_P_Grant I may have missed it, but why didn't the Ranges-Astros play an early "get away" game yesterday instead of playing last night when both had to travel for games tonight? #EvanHelpUs

Because ESPN wanted it for Sunday Night Baseball. And when ESPN speaks, MLB listens. Never mind that the Astros got to Seattle at 4 a.m. and the Rangers to St. Petersburg around 2:30; ESPN got the programming it wanted. And that trumps everything.

#EvanHelpUsIf you were Banny what would you tell Gallo in regards to the shift? Keep doing what you do playboy? Or pound grounders to 3rd until they stop shifting?

Just understand the situation. Down by a couple of runs and leading off an inning? Is the opponent giving you a free hit? OK, take it. Serves a purpose. Getting on base there potentially sets the stage for a big inning. That's smart baseball. And if you do it a couple of times, opponents are going to eventually think twice about the shift. But I wouldn't say "bunt," not unless he was comfortable with it. More importantly is to think of hitting the ball the opposite way. And he's doing that.

At all other times, when his run or his bat can have an impact on the game, then I want Joey Gallo doing what Joey Gallo does best: Try to make hard contact and drive the ball a long way.

With this season looking the way it is and us likely not competing for another couple years.. in addition to some of the other obvious names could you see Minor and Elvis being dealt in July? If it were me I would, just not sure if the FO would. #EvanHelpUS

Here are two guys I think could have significant value at the trade deadline: Mike Minor and Keone Kela. Both are pitchers with above average stuff. Both are under club control for multiple years. Some teams might see them both as end-of-the-game relievers. That's all valuable. Now, it's not Aroldis Chapman or Andrew Miller valuable, but those guys might get the Rangers their best returns. Just about anybody else of significance - Hamels, Beltre, even Andrus (due to his potential opt-out ability) - are basically rentals

One other guy who might have some value above what you might think: Alex Claudio. A left-handed, controllable reliever? Teams are always on the lookout for those.

@Evan_P_Grant Since Calhoun played a bunch of games in the majors last year, what’s the earliest the rangers can call him up this year and still retain an extra year of control? #evanhelpus

Believe it is May 3. If he comes up then, he would not end the season with a full year of major league service. He would then have six more years of service before free agency. The Rangers are going to be more cognizant of things like service time right now as they try to coordinate waves of talent to arrive together, but it isn't going to be the only driving force. Calhoun still needs defensive work.

And, though, it's only been four games, the currently alignment with Ronald Guzman, an above-average defender at first, and Joey Gallo, an above-average defender in left, doesn't really present a real obvious opportunity for Calhoun. Sometimes, having a good year in Triple-A doesn't guarantee you passage to the majors. Things have to align. Calhoun must understand that, too.

What teams might have interest in trading for Beltre, Hamels, and maybe even Choo? I know we are in a hard reload right now. Also, when might the @Rangers free Willy? (I’m well aware he’s not hitting well now and is still learning to play OF) #evanhelpus

My calls on Beltre and Hamels would be the Yankees and the Dodgers, respectively. The wild cards are injuries, but I think those teams stand out. Barring an injury, I don't see a team making a play for Choo. The salary obligation, particularly for two years after this, are just too exorbitant for a guy who is a DH and an above-average, but no longer elite, on-base guy. Maybe, if things turn really ugly for Rangers this season, they would be willing to eat an enormous amount of that sunk cost just to create space on the roster, but I think they'd go into the offseason and make one last attempt to either deal him for another "bad" contract or for a prospect with the Rangers essentially eating all the salary.

Any timeline on when the new Cuban kid plays in a minor league game? Are clowns scary? #evanhelpus

Understand this: Immigration is a dicey subject right now, particularly for those of Cuban descent. At this point, Julio Pablo Martinez was granted a one-time entry visa, which he used in February to work out for Miami and the New York Yankees. My understanding is this: He will spend the next two months in the extended spring training program in the Dominican Republic. When that season begins, he will play there for a short period of time, which should, I believe qualify him for a work visa. At that point, he will then be able to re-enter the U.S. and he will join a minor league team, but it will be either a short-season club or a Class A team. I think the current system sets his development back some, but not permanently.

Does Calhoun being vocal about starting in Triple A hurt his chances of being brought up anytime soon. It seems Profar felt similarly last year but it looks like he’s had a big change in attitude. Also, has there been an increase in balks this yr? #EvanHelpUs

It's not a great visual, but I don't think it will have any impact. The Rangers will say they love the fact that the kid wants to compete. The kid is being honest; nothing wrong with that. Still, I think from outside perspective, you'd love to see a little bit better comprehension of the situation. He's got work to do still, particularly when it comes to learning the outfield. His time will come. He will be here for a long time. But he's not a perfect fit because of the defensive shortcomings and that must be attacked before he's ready to get up here.

I want to say a Labrador Retriever because they will always catch the ball, they are reliable and they are sturdy. And Labs, in my mind, are the coolest dogs on the planet. But labs lick a lot. I don't think Beltre does that.

This morning, DeRosa on MLB network was suggesting Chirinos should be a trade target for a “good team” in need of a catcher. Might we lose Robbie, or is DeRosa just a big windbag? #EvanHelpUs

Mark is anything but a windbag. He's really good on TV. He Think he is a superstar in the making as an analyst, Also think he's got a point: If Chirinos can stay healthy, he'd be a nice under the radar, financially inexpensive, pickup for a team looking for catching depth. But he's never caught more than 90 games in a season and that's going to give anybody pause unless they are looking at him as a backup. Also, Chirinos has gotten off to a very slow start at the plate this year. He's got power no doubt, but he has struck out 19 times in his first 48 at-bats. Not ideal, but acceptable for a backup on a championship club.

I'm stuck between the hippo and an ostrich. Hippos are loud, they are aggressive, they are spilling water everywhere and they always have their mouths open. Ostrichs are aggressive and if they don't want to listen to you, they just go stick their heads in the sand.

But I also can't rule out cats, well, at least not our cat. He basically turns his butt to us every time we speak to him. He constantly barges into and out of the bedroom at night (he can open doors). And he has been known to pee in a suitcase on occasion. If that's not rude I don't know what is. I've got my eyes on you cat.